TORRINGTON >> A city attorney said she’s asking a federal court to rule on whether a man convicted of shooting his wife should be held in state prison, claiming the man didn’t receive his full disabled veterans medical benefits when previously incarcerated.

A jury found John Lavoie, 57, guilty of first-degree assault after he shot his wife Shelly Lavoie in the leg over her alleged infidelities, in 2009. A nine-hour standoff with local authorities in Litchfield followed the incident. Law enforcement officers eventually coaxed Lavoie to surrender.

The wheelchair-bound paraplegic was sentenced to spend 10 years in prison, Wednesday, although he was released on a $750,000 appeals bond following his sentencing. In addition to filing an appeal of Lavoie’s conviction in Connecticut Appellate Court, Torrington-based attorney Rachel Baird said she’s filing a writ of habeas corpus on Lavoie’s behalf, asking federal courts to rule whether Lavoie is entitled to receive his full disabled veteran’s benefits while in state prison.

“He was not provided those services, his life was put in danger,” said Baird, about the first 60 days Lavoie spent in jail following the shooting. She said Lavoie spent time in a veterans hospital following his incarceration. She said his medical problems stem from being hit by a car on Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, while serving there.

“The potential impact it could have on veterans throughout the U.S. could be great,” said Baird. “They have a property right, they have an interest. They’ve earned to have these federal services provided,” she said about the disable veterans benefits.

Baird asked Connecticut courts to decide whether Lavoie was entitled to the benefits in state prison, but the court declined to rule. Baird said she sent two letters to the Department of Corrections asking if they were properly providing services for Lavoie. She said her letters were never returned.